Tighter than a 1970s perm was how Stuart Bannatyne described the battle for
the lead after Camper were nudged off their perch by overall race leaders
Team Telefonica on the approach to the Malacca Strait.

Less than 12 miles separate the top four boats after five hot and sticky days of racing in the Volvo Ocean Race third leg from Abu Dhabi but the 500 mile Strait, which runs between Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra could shake up the procession for the sail past Singapore.

Already Ken Read’s PUMA, lying second, has been slowed following a collision with some debris that damaged a daggerboard and there will be plenty more hurdles to come before the fleet has cleared one of the most hazardous and congested waterways in the world on the way to Sanya in China.

“The racing is still locked tight so there is no room for error and you have to be on your game,” said Camper co-skipper Bannatyne.

“But it's hard going, it's more puffy out here than a 1970s perm, and things aren’t going to get any easier once we reach the Malacca Strait.”

Lagging at the back of the fleet is Mike Sanderson’s Team Sanya, which at four years old is the oldest and slowest boat in the race but the performance of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, trailing Telefonica by 25 miles as the boats rounded Pulau We will be a cause for concern.

Skipper Ian Walker has blamed poor weather and tidal data for their lack of progress but described conditions as ‘tricky’.

“All the tidal grib files are completely wrong and it appears Telefónica have been making nice gains in the north by being in less adverse current,” Walker said.

“Secondly the wind forecasts are also now completely wrong. We always knew the approach to Pulau We would be hard but with no tools to rely on, it will be even trickier. I suspect this evening will see thunderstorms and lots of cloud activity messing with us too.

“Tricky is good right now as we need to make some tactical gains to get back in touch with the leaders. Life onboard is hot but good – we just need to keep ticking off the miles.”

Such close racing between Telefonica, Camper, Groupama and PUMA was proving stressful, admitted PUMA skipper Ken Read who at the last position report was just one mile behind Telefonica.

“Telefónica have done their customary fast sailing in the high lane and will probably come out of this long drag race on top as we enter the Malacca Strait,” said Read.

“Camper, Groupama and ourselves have been within eyeball range pretty much since the start of this leg and that doesn't seem to be changing any time in the near future. It makes it a bit more stressful on the boat, but certainly gives everyone a constant measuring stick, which is a good thing.”